Android developers are being told to list a street address in Google Play if they plan on selling apps or in-app purchases.

The new rule can be found in one's Google Play Developer Console (pictured). Developers are instructed to add a physical address to their contact information, which will be posted on the app's detail page on Google Play. It only applies to app developers who require payment or offer in-app upgrades, those who produce entirely free apps are exempt.

The announcement included a dire warning that those who do not add an address by September 30 may have their apps removed from the Play Store.

Android developers got the message about adding a physical address to their profile in the Google Play Developer Console.

This may not sit well with independent developers who work out of their home and would rather not share their address with the planet. Given that a physical address is a quick Google search away from a detailed map complete with StreetView, this could unsettle many who build apps for Android.

This move is probably another effort to tighten accountability in Google Play, which often gets dinged as having more malware and downright sketchy apps than Apple's App Store. However, it leaves some developers with two poor choices: fork over money for a P.O. Box, or worry about angry app buyers showing up at the doorstep.

This story, "Android developers must now list physical address in Play Store" was originally published by
Greenbot.

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